Poker Strategy: Slow Playing

Written by MarkBonington Friday, 29 April 2011 18:28

Editorials - Poker Editorials

Being able to slow play a good hand is an essential skill for any poker player, at whatever level. Having this tactic under your belt can be the difference between winning a small portion of chips, and snagging those big stacks we all covet as players.

Slow play the right hands. Many people try and slow play with mediocre hands, such as top pairs. This is a risk, and a large one at that, as there are many hands which stand a chance of easily beating them. With top pairs and other hands of that calibre, you want to open with aggressive stance. Granted, the pot will most likely be smaller, but for the most part it is better to be more humble with these particular hands. Slow playing with top hands (i.e. hands where you are fairly certain of a win) is much more sensible. If you try and slow play with a big pair, you are more likely to lose.

Observe.  Watch the actions of your opponents around the table. When you hold a great hand, you need to watch and decide on many factors of how to play it. Timing is imperative; you need to entice your opponent to bet without letting them think that you hold the (potentially) winning hand. If at a live table, you should observe their reactions when turn and river cards appear. From that you can attempt to ascertain which hands they have and thus form your judgements. If they bet contentiously and then check on the final bet, you can be fairly sure they have lost some faith in their hand. In an online game, watch how long it takes before they take action.

Who to slow play against. Typically, slow play is most profitable when you are against a loose and aggressive player. He will take your constant checking or minimal betting for uncertainty, and will happily throw stack after stack of chips into play himself. This kind of player presents the perfect slow play victim, as they will only realise too late that you have them beaten. Playing against tight players is more difficult, so it is best to simply check and let them make the decision to bet. Try and bet too much against a tight player and they will fold out of sheer fear. If you can, try and let them think they have the better hand (remember a tight player would not be trying to win the hand at all unless they thought they did).

Slow playing is not bluffing. Many people make the mistake of thinking that a slow play is in the same league as a bluff. To truly bluff, you must have a hand which is most likely going to lose. In slow play, your hand is a winner, but you must evoke the same mentality as if you were bluffing. This does not mean trying to send out false signals (known as “Hollywooding”) but requires a well executed poker face, and not allowing your opponents to pick up any information from you.

© 2007-2010 BrainBetting.com. All rights reserved.